Colossians 4:7-18 pt 1

- this morning we're moving into the final section of the book of
Colossians.
- to be honest, I'm doing this rather reluctantly--because I have
thoroughly enjoyed -- and have been thoroughly challenged by our study
in this great book.

- now, at first glance, it may appear that verses 7-18 are rather trivial
and contain some minor details that can either be skipped or
summarized quickly.

- it probably won't surprise you to learn that thats not what we're going
to do with these verses.
- there are some great truths here that I'll think we'll find very
encouraging and very helpful---so we're going to take our time as
we study.

- several writers have described these verses as a "verbal group
photograph."
- Paul mentions eight of his co-workers who have been a help to him
in his ministry.
- the way he describes these men is important---and what other
passages of Scripture tells us is important as well.

- Have you ever wondered what the people who made up the early church
were like?
- where did Paul find the kind of people who could serve as leaders of
the many new churches that were being started?
- there were no seminaries or Bible colleges
- there was no pool of trained people waiting in the wings
- yet Paul, in the power of Christ, was planting churches that were
so effective -- that even the detractors said -- "they were
turning the world upside down."

- one overall lesson to take away from these verses is that God's service
is never done effectively by "lone-wolfs."
- even a man like the apostle Paul worked most effectively when he worked
with other people.

- Warren Wiersbe noted, "the apostle Paul was not only a soul-winner, he
was a friend-maker.
- by Wiersbe' count, there are over a hundred named and unnamed
associates of Paul in the book of Acts and the epistles.
- in Romans 16, the last chapter in that book, 26 different people are
named.

- let's quickly look at a couple of passages that go along with what
we're saying:
- left side of the room -- Prov. 27:17

- right side of the room -- Eccles. 4:9-12

- INPUT - each group -- what does this passage teach us about the
importance/value of friends in ministry?

- with this in mind -- let's look at the passage.
- READ Col. 4:7-18.

(outline from MacArthur)

I. Tychicus - The Man With a Servant's Heart

- the first man mentioned in this passage is a man named Tychicus.
- let's talk about what we know about this man from other passages,
and then what we can learn from what Paul says in verses 7-8.

A. Who he was

1) Acts 20:4 - traveled with Paul to Jerusalem as a
representative of Gentile believers.

- at the end of the third missionary journey, Paul was going
around to the Gentile churches taking up an offering for
the Jewish believers in Jerusalem.
- there was great need at that time, and this act of kindness
on the part of the Gentiles would help cement their
relationship with the Jewish believers.
- it would also help the Jewish believers to meet some of
the Christians from the Gentile churches face to face.

- one of the people selected by Paul for this task was
Tychicus.

2) Titus 3:12 - considered as an interim pastor for Titus.

3) II Tim. 4:12 - sent to be an interim pastor for Timothy.

4) Col. 4:7 - trusted to hand deliver the books of Colossians,
Ephesians (Eph. 6:21), and probably Philemon (Col. 4:9).

INPUT - what do these details tell us about the kind of man Tychicus must
have been?

INPUT - what can we learn from these details? (God uses ordinary people
in His work)

INPUT - what kind of things do churches have to do to develop these kind
of people?

- now let's go back to what Paul says about this man in Col. 4:

B. What he was like

1. beloved brother
- wouldn't it be something to have the apostle Paul consider
you a brother that he loved, or a sister in Christ that he
loved?
- Tychicus had won a place in Paul's heart.

2. faithful servant

3. fellow bond-servant

- there are two different words used in this verse for
servant. (there are actually eight different ones used in
the Scripture.)
- the first one is "diakonos" - servant - (the word from which we get the
word deacon)
- the second one is "sundoulos" -- fellow bond servant

- Tychicus faithfully served Paul
- and together, they faithfully served the Lord.

- cf. Sid Galloway's letter

- a good question for each of us to ask this morning is; "if someone who
knew me well was going to write a statement describing me and my
service to the Lord, what kinds of things would they say?"
- Can you imagine a better commendation than the one Tychicus
received?

II. Onesimus - The Man With the Sinful Past

A. Who he was

- runaway slave
- INPUT - who was his master? (Philemon)
- INPUT - what church did Philemon attend? (church at Colossee)

- so here's a situation that can only be explained by the
wonderful providence of God where an unbelieving slave runs
away from a believing master
- he runs away to the great city of Rome, probably because
that would be an easy place to hide.
- somehow he meets the Apostle Paul
- Paul leads him to Christ

- of course while Onesimus could be helpful to Paul, Paul
knows this man has some unfinished business.
- so along with this letter to Philemon's church, he also
writes a letter to Philemon

- read Philemon 10-17

- now let's go back to Colossians and see the way Paul described this
man.

B. What he was like.

- INPUT - How is Onesimus described in verse 10?

1) faithful brother

2) beloved brother

3) "one of you"

4) sent to report to you (the Colossians) about my affairs.

- there's some things we can definitely learn from this story:

INPUT - How is this story encouraging?
(there's a place for everyone)

INPUT - How is this story challenging?
(have to be able to accept and love everyone God brings into our
church, regardless of their past.)

III. Aristarchus - The Man With a Sympathetic Heart

"Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you"

A. Who he was

- this is a man who was somewhat obscure--yet when you read
something about him--it always has to do with him "being at
Paul's side."

1. Acts 19:29 - seized by the rioting mob at Ephesus

- remember when the mob was screaming, "great is the goddess
Diana" because Paul's ministry was threatening their economy
which was based on idol making and idol worship.
- Acts 19:29 - "And the whole city was filled with confusion,
and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia,
Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord
into the theater."

- so here's a guy who's one of Paul's companions, and all of a
sudden he gets nabbed by the angry crowd.

2. Acts 20:4 - accompanied Paul on his return trip to Jerusalem

3. Acts 27:4 - accompanied Paul on his voyage to Rome

B. What he was like

- Paul describes Aristarchus as "his fellow prisoner"

- it's unlikely that this man was actually a prisoner like Paul
was---the point was, Aristarchus stayed with Paul during his
imprisonment
- he shared the experience with him by staying by his side.

- we asked at the beginning of our time -- what kind of people made up
the early church?
- this profile is a lot different than you might expect.
- there's nothing in the Scripture that would lead you to
believe that this man was particularly gifted
- he's surely not famous

- but he was faithful.
- he sacrificed himself to minister to Paul.

- cf. Sid Galloway's letter.

IV. The Man With The Surprising Future

- It's very interesting that paul would mention John Mark.

- INPUT - what do we know about him?

A. Who he was

1. Acts 13 - Went with Paul and Barnabus on the first missionary
journey

2. Acts 13:13 - deserted when the going got tough

3. Acts 15:37-39 - became a source of friction between Paul and
Barnabus, leaving to them splitting
4. II Tim. 4:11 - Later requested by Paul, who said "he is
profitable for me in the ministry"

B. What he was like.

- "if he come, receive him"

- the great news about this story is that even though he had
failed miserably at one point in his ministry
- he changed and became a man that was profitable and able
to serve the Lord effectively.